Illuminated license plate

ABSTRACT

An illuminated license plate for use with vehicles or for other purposes which employs spaced apart vertical parallel outer and inner members connected by a flexible hollow translucent tube extending between the plates along the peripheries thereof. Light producing means are disposed within the tube. The outer member has openings defining letters, numbers or other indicia. The tube produces the effect of a light emitting frame and light also passes out through the openings to define the indicia.

United States Patent Flannery Nov. 25, 1975 [54] ILLUMINATED LICENSEPLATE 2,562,740 7/1951 Rizer 40/204 [75] Inventor: Joe W. Flannery,Toronto, Canada 05c 40/204 [73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Inc., a part interest AssistantExaniiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras [22] F1led: June 24, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT[21] Appl- 4811958 An illuminated license plate for use with vehicles orfor other purposes which employs spaced apart verti- 52 U.S. c1. 40/204;40/133 R eel parallel outer and inner members connected y a 51 1111.(:1. G09F 13/02 flexible hollow translucent tube extending between the58 Field of Search 40/209, 204, 133 Plates along the peripheriesthereef- Light Producing means are disposed within the tube. The outermem- [56] References Cited ber has openings defining letters, numbers orother in- UNITED STATES PATENTS dicia. The tube produces the effect of alight emitting frame and 11ght also passes out through the openmgs1,487,548 3/1924 Esters 40/133 R X e to defme the 1nd1c1a.

l,664,302 3/1928 Leopold et a1... 40/209 X 1,792,635 2/1931 Gropper40/133 R X 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures Q 4 e i III-lung US. Patent Nov.25, 1975 ILLUMINATED LICENSE PLATE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONConventionally, license plates used on vehicles or for other purposescarry indicia such as numbers, letters or the like which are illuminatedby directing light from an adjacent lamp thereon.

In the present invention, the indicia are defined by openings throughwhich light passes to provide illumination. Moreover, the membercarrying these openings is provided with a peripherally disposedtranslucent frame which itself has light passing therethrough to definean illuminated frame.

Typically, one or more incandescent lamps provide light but also provideheat to melt snow or ice. The indicia are more clearly defined atgreater distances than is the case with conventional plates. Thestructure has an enhanced appearance and is easily manufactured at lowcost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is aperspective view of the invention; and FIG. 2 is a view taken along line22 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1and 2, a flat horizontally elongated sheet or plate is secured to avehicle by bolts, clips or the like (not shown). The outer surface 12 ofthe plate is treated as for example by polishing to be light reflective.

An outer parallel spaced apart aligned plate 14 has cut outs or openings16 defining letters, numbers or other indicia.

A flexible hollow translucent plastic tube 18 defining a hollowrectangle has parallel vertical extensions 20A and 20B defining a clipdetachably engaging the front surface of plate 10. Tube 18 also has aremovable inner spacer liner 22 which is disposed between the plates.The tube extends between the plates peripherally thereabout.

The liner carries one or more sockets 24 with incandescent lamps 26removahly disposed therein. Wiring 28 connected to the sockets extendsoutward through an opening 30 in plate 10 to make connection through theheadlight switch to the battery.

The tube, being flexible and somewhat stretchable, is easily pulled offor snapped on.

The tube must pass light and can be transparent if desired. The tube canbe colored or clear.

While the invention has been described with detailed reference to thedrawings, the protection sought is to be limited only by the terms ofthe claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A license plate structure comprising:

a flat vertical inner member;

a parallel flat outer member spaced from the inner member, said outermember having openings defining letters, numbers or other indicia;

a flexible hollow translucent plastic tube defining a hollow rectangleand having two parallel vertically inwardly extending extensions with aremovable translucent inner spacer liner disposed therebetween, saidliner being disposed between said members and extending transverselybetween the outer edges of the two members to maintain spacingtherebetween, said extensions detachably engaging the peripheries ofboth members along the outside surfaces of both members and functioningas a clip, said extensions and said liner holding the members togetherin spaced relationship;

a plurality of sockets extending through said liner into the spacewithin the tube in spaced relationship;

a like plurality of incandescent lamps, each lamp being disposedremovably in a corresponding socket; and

electrically conductive means extending through said inner member intothe region between the members and connected to said sockets wherebywhen an electric current is caused to flow in said means, the lamps areenergizied and illuminate said indicia forming openings and said tube.

1. A license plate structure comprising: A FLAT VERTICAL INNER MEMBER; APARALLEL FLAT OUTER MEMBER SPACED FROM THE INNER MEMBER, SAID OUTERMEMBER HAVING OPENINGS DEFINING LETTERS, NUMBERS OR OTHER INDICIA; AFLEXIBLE HOLLOW TRANSLUCENT PLASTIC TUBE DEFINING A HOLLOW RECTANGLE ANDHAVING TWO PARALLEL VERTICALLY INWARDLY EXTENDING EXTENSIONS WITH AREMOVABLE TRANSLUCENT INNER SPACER LINER DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN, SAIDLINER BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELYBETWEEN THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TWO MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN SPACINGTHEREBETWEEN, SAID EXTENSIONS DETACHABLY ENGAGING THE PERIPHERIES OFBOTH MEMBERS ALONG THE OUTSIDE SURFACES OF BOTH MEMBERS AND FUNCTIONINGAS A CLIP, SAID EXTENSIONS AND SAID LINER HOLDING THE MEMBERS TOGETHERIN SPACED RELATIONSHIP; A PLURALITY OF SOCKETS EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDLINER INTO THE SPACE WITHIN THE TUBE IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP; A LIKEPLURALITY OF INCANDESCENT LAMPS, EACH LAMP BEING DISPOSED REMOVABLY IN ACORRESPONDING SOCKET; AND ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEANS EXTENDINGTHROUGH SAID INNER MEMBER INTO THE REGION BETWEEN THE MEMBERS ANDCONNECTED TO SAID SOCKETS WHEREBY WHEN AN ELECTRIC CURRENT IS CAUSED TOFLOW IN SAID MEANS, THE LAMPS ARE ENERGIZIED AND ILLUMINATE SAID INDICIAFORMING OPENINGS AND SAID TUBE.